Combined case and lighter



' y 1938- F. E. WAKEFIELD 2,116,292

COMBINED CASE AND LIGHTER Filed Nov. 15, 1937 2 Shgets-Sheet l y 3, 1938. F. E. WAKEFIELD COMBINED CASE AND LIGHTER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 15, 1957 W w M W. M M

Patented May 3, 1938 PATENT OFFICE COMBINED CASE AND LIGHTER Frank E. Wakefield, North Attleboro, Mass, assignor to Evans Case Company, North Attleboro, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application November 15. 1937, Serial No. 174,686

- 13 Claims.

The invention relates to a combined case and lighter preferablyfor use in the-pocket or bag of the user. Preferably the case will be used for carrying cigarettes although it may be used-for it other purposes. It is a purpose of the invention to provide a combined lighter and cigarette'case which is simple. attractive, smooth and symmetrical in its outside appearance. The invention contemplates a construction in which the lighter t and case are so associated together that the case may be opened and articles removed without interiering with the lighter or exposing it. Itis also possible to open, expose and use the lighter Without opening or exposing the contents of the W case. The arrangement and construction is such that fumes or liquid which may leak from the lighter may be carried away and dissipatedin the air without reaching the interior of the case and consequently without causing the contents of the 20 case to deteriorate. The invention contemplates a device which is relatively simple in construction and is compact in its arrangement and at the same time is uncomplicated in structure, is easy to use and sure of operation.

25 The invention may be embodied in many forms.

In the accompanying drawings is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device in closed position. Fig. 2 is a similar side elevation of the g device in open position. Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the device in closed position. Figs. 4 and 6 are plan views of details of construction. Figs. and 7 are vertical sectional views respectively on the lines 5-5 and 'l--l of Figs. 4 and 6.

5 Fig. 8 is a fragmentary side elevation similar to Fig. 1, portions of the casing being broken away to show the interior arrangement.

The device comprises a member I! I connected to a member l2 at one side by a hinge l3. The memno bers it and iii are provided with rims on three sides so as to form closed sides and end. On the hinge It is shown a spring controlled keeper it for engaging cigarettes placed in the member l2. A catch mechanism E5 of any suitable character up may be employed to hold the members it and it closed.

The upper end of the case forming the members it and i2 is closed by a hollow inwardly projecting member it. The member I6 is illustrated as till attached in any suitable way to the end of the member H. The member l6 has an outwardly extending flange l! which is large enough in area to engage and rest upon the ends of the members ill and l 2 and close the end of the case end of the member it is shown a strip 2!! which lighter.

vided in the exposed wall of the member iii a depression it so that some such device as a watch it may be carried on the inside of the member H. In Fig. 1 the watch is illustrated as being visible through the wall of the member it. This watch 5 is not essential to the present invention but may be a desirable portion of the device.

Pressed inwardly in the walls of the member it are locking portions for a purpose to be explained later. I

. At the end of the member l6 opposite the hinge t3 the flange l'l may be cut away or omitted to leave room for a hinge member. Within the may be fastened in position by any suitable means such as riveting, welding or the like. At its top the strip 20 is provided with a tube bearing 22 through which may pass a pintle pin 23 and which may be straddled by two tubular bearing members 2t formed on the end of a plate 25 which also 20 engage the pintle pin 23. The plate 25 forms the cover which may be referred to as the top of the The reservoir 26 may be filled with suitable absorbent material 21 and access to it for filling purposes may be procured through the 25 usual opening 28 through the plate 25. The plate 25 is fastened by any suitable means such as soldering or welding or the like to the edge or top of the reservoir 26. The plate 25 is provided with an opening 29 through which may pass the 30 lighter wick 30. A holder M is fastened in any suitable way in the plate 25 to carry the operating mechanism such as the thumb piece, ratchet,

igniter and the like of the lighter. The holder 3i has projecting cars 32 provided with holes 33 for 3 engaging the projections 20 in the member it. There might be a possibility of leakage between the bearing tube 22 and the adjacent cut-out end of the plate 25. In order to avoid this leakage a plate 34 is provided, curved to overlie the bearing tubes 22 and 24, and extending inside the plate 25 to which it may be fastened in any suitable way. As illustrated the plate 35 extends beyond the opening 28 and is provided with a perforation corresponding thereto.

Cigarettes may be placed in the case under the holder it and manipulation of the catch l5 may open the case and expose the cigarettes. This may occur when the apparatus is in the condition indicated in Fig. 1 when the lighter is closed or when the apparatus is in the condition indicated in Fig. 2 when the lighter is open. When the lighter is in closed position as indicated in Fig. 1 it is held closed by engagement between 2% and 33. 56

' independently of the condition or operation of the lighter. The lighter may be opened and manipulated or closed independently of the position or condition of the case.

When closed the lighter mechanism extends into the recessed end member l6 of the case which is provided with catches 20 for holding the lighter in closed position. The member l8 which closes the end of the case "-12 is provided with a support 2| for the hinge carrying the lighter mechanism. Preferably the lighter will be made of a shape and size corresponding generally to the shape and size of the casing formed by members I l and I2 so that in closed position the device may produce a regular, uniform, more or less smooth appearance.

The exposed portion of the lighter mechanism when not in use is enclosed in the member it which may consist of a single piece of metal. Any fumes or liquids leaking from the lighter will thus be caught and restrained from reaching or aifecting the cigarettes or other contents of the case. The lighter is so positioned that the operating thumb piece 38 extends away from the hinge 23 and toward the free end of the lighter so as to be easily and readily reached for manipulation. The wick 30 of the lighter, however, is placed in a more protected position toward the hinge 23 so that the case may to some extent form a shield for it and reduce the tendency for it to be extinguished by drafts and the like.

The lighter mechanism itself may be of any suitable form and forms no part of the present invention. Therefore the details of the lighter element are not fully illustrated or described. It will be noted, however, that the casing Si is provided with a tube 31 in which may set the spring controlling the thumb piece 36 in one specific type of lighter. The frame 3| is also provided with a tube 38 to receive the spring supporting the flint of the lighter and extending to the outside of the tank 26 so that new fiints may be inserted in a way well known in the art.

The particular details of construction and operation illustrated and described form no part of the present invention which may be embodied in other forms.

I claim as my invention:

1. A case comprising two members hinged together at one side and closed at one end, at the other end a hollow inwardly extending end member attached to one casing member, a hinge member in the hollow end member at its end opposite the first mentioned hinge, a plate carried by the hinge in the hollow end member, a lighter carried by the plate and having a portion adapted to extend into the hollow member and be engaged thereby, and a casing for the lighter carried by the plate forming substantially a complementary extension for the two casing members.

2. A case comprising two members hinged together at one side and closed at one end, at the other end a hollow inwardly extending end member attached to one casing member, a hinge member in the hollow end member at its end opposite the first mentioned hinge, and a lighter carried by the last mentioned hinge and having a portion adapted to extend into the hollow member and be engaged thereby.

3. A case comprising two members hinged together at one side and closed at one end, at the other end a hollow inwardly extending end member attached to one casing member, a hinge on said hollow end member at its side opposite the first mentioned hinge, and a lighter carried by the last mentioned hinge and having a portion adapted to extend into the hollow member and be engaged thereby.

4;. A case comprising two members hinged together at one side and closed at one end, at the other end a hollow inwardly extending end member attached to one casing member, a hinge member in the hollow end member at its end opposite the first mentioned hinge, a plate carried by the hinge in the hollow end member, and a lighter carried by the plate and having a portion adapted to extend into the hollow member and be engaged thereby.

5. A case comprising two members hinged together at one side and closed at one end, at the other end a hollow inwardly extending end member attached to one casing member, a. hinge member in the hollow end member at its end opposite the first mentioned hinge, a plate carried by the hinge in the hollow end member, a lighter carried by the plate and having a portion adapted to extend into the hollow member and be engaged thereby, and a cover member for sealing the hinge joint between the plate and the interior of the lighter.

6. A case comprising two members hinged together at one side and closed at one end, a hinge attached to one casing member at its side opposite the first mentioned hinge, a plate carried by the last mentioned hinge, a lighter including a reservoir carried by the plate, and a cover member for sealing the hinge joint between the plate and the reservoir of the lighter.

'7. A case comprising two members hinged together at one side and closed at one end, at the other end a hollow inwardly extending end member attached to one casing member, a hinge on the hollow end member at its side opposite the first mentioned hinge, a plate carried by the last mentioned hinge, a. lighter including a reservoir carried by the plate and having a portion adapted to extend into the hollow member and be engaged thereby, and a cover member for sealing the hinge joint between the plate and the reservoir of the lighter.

8. A case comprising two members hinged together at one side and closed at one end, at the other end a hollow inwardly extending end member attached to one casing member, a hinge member in the hollow end member at its end opposite the first mentioned hinge, a plate carried by the hinge in the hollow end member, a lighter carried by the plate and having a portion adapted to extend into the hollow member and be engaged thereby, a thumb piece on the lighter toward the end away from the hinge, an ignitable wick for the lighter near its end adjacent the hinge, and a casing for the lighter carried by the plate forming substantially a complementary extension for the two casing members.

9. A case comprising two members hinged together at one side and closed at one end, at the other end a hollow inwardly extending end member attached to one casing member, a hinge member in the hollow end member at its end opposite the first mentioned hinge, a lighter carried by the last mentioned hinge and having a portion adapted to extend into the hollow member and be engaged thereby, a thumb piece on the lighter toward the end away from the hinge,

and an ignitable wick for the lighter near its end adjacent the hinge.

10. A case comprising two members hinged together at one side and closed at one end, at' the other end a hollow inwardly extending end member attached to one casing member, a hinge on the hollow end member at its side opposite the first mentioned hinge, a lighter carried by the last named hinge and having a portion adapted to' extend into the hollow member and be engaged thereby, a thumb piece on the lighter toward the end away from the hinge, and an ignitable wick for the lighter near its end adjacent the hinge. v

11. A case comprising two members hinged together at one side and closed at one end, at the other end a hollow inwardly extending end member attached to one casing member, a hinge member in the hollow end member at its end opposite the first mentioned hinge, a plate carried by the hinge in the hollow end member, a lighter carried by the plate-and having a portion adapted to extend into the hollow member and be engaged thereby, a thumb piece on the lighter toward the end away from the hinge, and an ignitable wick for the lighter near its end adjacent the hinge.

12. A case comprising two members hinged together at one side and closed at one end, at the other end a hollow inwardly extending end member attached to one casing member, a lighter having a reservoir, a plate closing the reservoir and hinged to the hollow end member at its side. opposite the first mentioned hinge, ears extending from the plate and adapted to extend into the hollow member and be engaged thereby, and a cover member for sealing the hinge joint between the plate and the interior of the lighter.

13. A case comprising two members hinged together at one side, a lighter having a reservoir, a plate carrying the lighter and closing the reservoir, ears extending from the plate, operating mechanism for the lighter between the ears, and a hinge for the plate carried by one casing member so that the ears may swing between the casing members.

FRANK E. WAKEFIELD. 

